13 August 2012
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Humanitarian emergencies – ranging from natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis to man-made conflicts – threaten millions of people's lives each year. Central to responding to these emergencies are thousands of dedicated humanitarian workers, supporting local communities and affected people to recover, rebuild and survive.
World Humanitarian Day is a time to recognise those people who face danger and adversity to provide help and support to others: particularly those that have lost their lives or been injured doing so.
Celebration of people helping people
Every day, humanitarian aid workers help millions of people around the world, regardless of who they are and where they are. World Humanitarian Day is a global celebration of people helping people.
The day has been celebrated every 19 August since 2009. It commemorates the death of 22 humanitarian workers who were killed when the UN Office in Iraq was bombed in 2003. Among those killed was Sergio Viera de Mello, the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Iraq. His widow fought for 19 August to be recognised as World Humanitarian Day.
Honouring those who have been killed or injured
Humanitarian workers deliver vital assistance, in the form of food, water, shelter, medical care and other necessities in places torn apart by conflict and man-made or natural disasters. Every World Humanitarian Day, the Department for International Development, along with other international bodies, highlights the roles performed by humanitarian workers, and remembers those who have been killed or injured while performing their vital roles.
The Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell said:
“Humanitarian workers are central in the battle to save lives in some of the most horrendous circumstances. They work around the world risking their own personal safety to help others on a daily basis. World Humanitarian Day is a time to celebrate their actions in places like the Sahel, Syria and the Horn of Africa helping people in desperate need.
"It is also a time to commemorate those that have lost their lives. I am reminded of Khalil Dale, a dedicated International Committee of the Red Cross health programme manager. He was kidnapped and murdered in April this year and this day serves to remember those that have lost their lives supporting people affected by humanitarian emergencies.”
World Humanitarian Day aims to increase public awareness of this humanitarian assistance worldwide. To show your support for World Humanitarian Day visit www.whd-iwashere.org
Or find out more about our work on humanitarian disasters and emergencies.
Video: World Humanitarian Day 2012 campaign message from Beyoncé